Only Parliament Can Remove Zuma – Democratic Alliance

SOUTH Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) has dismissed the ANC’s recall of President Jacob Zuma as the country’s leader as a non-event, arguing only Parliament can cause the 75 year-old to step down.

“This recall is an internal ANC resolution, and nothing more. It has no effect on Jacob Zuma’s current status as President of the Republic, and can be simply ignored by Zuma. Unless he tenders his resignation, this recall is not worth the paper it is printed on.

“The fact is, Jacob Zuma remains President, and remains in power. And as long as this is the case, our country suffers,” the DA said in a statement.

Zuma, in power since 1999, has been dogged by corruption charges. He resists calls to step down to pave way for his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The only way to remove Jacob Zuma as President of our country is for Parliament to do so through a Motion of No Confidence. It is Parliament that elects and removes a President, not the ANC,” the DA added.

ANC secretary general, Ace Magashule said the ruling party’s decision to re-call Zuma followed marathon discussions of the party’s top six.

“The NEC received a report from the national officials about the engagements with the president. The NEC noted that the officials had agreed with him in principle to resign. The president proposed he be given a period of three to six months.

“The decision by the NEC to recall its deployee was taken only after exhaustive discussion on the impact such a recall would have on the country, the ANC and the functioning of government,”

Magashule said at a press briefing at Luthuli House on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the DA called for Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF’s) motion of no confidence against Zuma, provisionally scheduled for February 22, to be “brought forward to within this week, in order for Parliament to remove Jacob Zuma.

“Following that, the National Assembly must dissolve Parliament in terms of Section 50 of the Constitution. Anyone who wants to be the next President of this country must have the mandate of the people, and this can only be established through an early election.

“The people must elect the new South African President, not a few connected cadres within the ANC.”